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A Napoleon complex

Rod Pommier from Portland, Oregon

At left in this image is the famous Elephant Trunk Nebula (IC 1396A). But look at the dark, nebulous figure to its right, and you might spy a general on horseback, in a French military hat, cape flowing in the wind. Pommier calls it the Napoleon on Horseback Nebula. (Ed. note: Or perhaps Hannibal, crossing the Alps with his elephants?) It was originally cataloged by Beverly Lynds as LDN 1093. This HαRGB image was captured with 11 hours 25 minutes of exposure with a 17-inch scope.